March Or Die

[marathondan]

Blimey, it's all gone very active all of a sudden!

Sweder and Andy, I never thought I'd see the day when you stopped tweeting. But I didn't realise you were finding it so intrusive. Bravo for taking the bold move. But then again, anyone who's resolved to run a marathon (or worse) is no stranger to such decisions.

I second the motion that Sweder (and Andy for that matter) should feel any obligation to generate content here. You both have a fine body of work behind you (enough to form the basis of a good running book, as discussed many times) and you should feel no pressure to keep that up. But I know that deep down you both want to, and take it further as well.

BTW Andy, you may not be aware that, although your posts don't make it onto t'internet, some of them do appear in your RSS feed.... (maybe if you post them and then immediately delete them? There was one about you entering into a relationship with a man the other day I think.)

Regarding the purpose of the forum... for me, RC is a running club and the forum is the clubhouse. You can pop in for a two minute chat to hear how training has been going for the last couple of days, you might get to hear a half decent joke or an interesting take on the news, or now and again we all might settle down with our favourite drinks (there's a well-stocked bar of course) while one of our number tells a long and absorbing yarn about their latest adventure. Plans are hatched, souls are bared, anxieties aired and therapy (running-related or otherwise) is dispensed. All we lack is the physical space, and we're the better for that because it means we can hold the conversations at our own personal convenience (not to mention spanning 12,000 miles).

Julie - yes it would be great to hear more details of your training and your race days. My personal philosophy is that if I have content I don't need to worry about style. I don't think I can make a story particularly entertaining, so I just try to make sure that it's a story worth telling (which frankly isn't really the case with my marathon training these days).

There are some folks round here who are natural ranconteurs, the types around whom we naturally gather in the virtual clubhouse to hear their epic, anecdote-laden stories. We don't all have that talent, but the world of the distance runner is always a life less ordinary, and so I think even the workaday logs are a tale worth telling. Besides, you are becoming a technical expert in the run / walk field, which is something we could probably all benefit from learning about.

And when the going's got tough through the winter, I have found it helpful to flick through my previous diaries to see that I've been there before and come out the other side. It's a good habit to get into, I think.

Finally, I would like to extend thanks to all those who are not, shall we say, "active runners" at present, but who have dropped by occasionally to offer support during my winter training. I feel that my diary has been mostly for my own benefit, but it's good to know others are reading sometimes and the comments are much appreciated. Hopefully I will have a good tale to tell come next Sunday.

Finally finally (as you've posted while I was drafting this) - Sweder I salute your new footer - which I will now reproduce for posterity, as in a few months time it will disappear and this post will make no sense: "Let's see how we get on, shall we?" The motto of a man who, despite in the past having shown tremendous reserves of willpower and strength, knows that running is a wily and mischievous spirit, which may lead who knows where.